It's been a dominant stretch on the local softball scene, with all four area teams posting wins in the past week—and none more impressive than the Astoria Fishermen, who are rolling through Cowapa League play.

Astoria now sits alone atop the league standings after Scappoose dropped its season series to St. Helens. The Fishermen improved to 5-1 in league action with a commanding 16-1 victory over Tillamook on Tuesday. After battling windy conditions in their first meeting last Friday, the Fishermen made quick work of the Cheesemakers at CMH Field, ending the game in just three innings thanks to the 15-run mercy rule.

Balance was the story at the plate. Every position player contributed exactly one hit, and bench player Olive Hopkins added an RBI single in her only at-bat. In total, 10 different Fishermen recorded hits. The offense exploded early, plating seven runs in the first, five in the second, and four more to close it out. On the mound, Taryen Wray was sharp, striking out seven over three innings while allowing just one unearned run.

Next up for Astoria is a huge two-game set against rival Seaside on Thursday and Friday. The Fishermen will host Game 1 at CMH Field before traveling to Seaside for a Friday evening showdown.

Speaking of the Seagulls, they brought the lumber against Madras on Monday. Taking a break from league play, Seaside swept the White Buffaloes with identical 11-1 wins, improving to 8-9 on the season and climbing to No. 13 in the 4A state rankings. This team has proven it belongs among the top 16 in the state, but a brutal league featuring the top three ranked teams means they'll likely need some upsets down the stretch to secure a state playoff berth.

Game one was a clinic. Seaside collected 14 hits, swiped 10 bases, and drew five walks. Senior Carly Corder was the star of the show, reaching base all four times with three hits and a walk while tossing a six-inning no-hitter. The only blemish: a single walk. She struck out eight batters in a dominant performance. Fellow senior Ella Brenden shined from the No. 8 spot, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs.

Game two followed the same script. The Seagulls pounded out 13 hits, walked twice, stole two bases, and played errorless defense for a clean five-inning victory. Carly Corder stayed perfect at the plate with another 4-for-4 day. Lili Morris, Allie Corder, and Grace Walker each added two hits, while Allie Corder handled the pitching duties and kept Madras off balance all afternoon.

With momentum on their side, both Astoria and Seaside are gearing up for a pivotal rivalry clash that could shape the rest of their seasons.